MUSKEGON, MI – More than 200 students in the region will be
recognized for their talents and achievements in academics, athletics and the
arts at the West Michigan Student Showcase on March 19 and 20 at the Frauenthal
Center for the Performing Arts.

This year's logo for the West Michigan Student Showcase, designed by Ashton Spicer from Coopersville High School.Courtesy

This year, 241 students from 30 high schools in Muskegon,
Oceana, Ottawa, Mason and Newaygo counties are participating in the event, said
Joel Selby, the event's coordinator.

While the academic and athletic honorees will be recognized
for their achievements, students in the literary arts, visual arts and
performing arts categories will compete for scholarship prizes, Selby said.

Prizes start at $300 in scholarship money for third place in
the visual arts, literally arts, performing arts (solo or duo) and performing
arts (group), Selby said. Second-place winners in each category receive $500
and first place winners receive $1,000.

Performance arts participants are also eligible for the Gary
Ostrom Showstopper Award, which is handed out to the student or students "who
really got the audience to their feet (and) really engaged the audience," Selby
said.

Students this year are scheduled to sing, dance, act, play
instruments and even show off some unexpected talents, like Chinese yo-yo and a
freestyle soccer performance set to a mashup of songs.

"It's really inspiring to see all the
different things that all these students are doing," Selby said. "When you go
to showcase you're not just watching a talent show, you're watching the best
students in the area."

The public can also check out the visual art submissions,
which have been hanging in the Bettye Clark-Cannon Gallery, located in the Hilt
Building, since March 7. This year, each school has submitted a piece, Selby
said, leading to a full gallery and a collection of work in various mediums, including
some sculptural, 3D and interactive art.

The art will hang in the gallery until April 16, giving visitors
plenty of time to check it out, Selby said. The literary arts submissions will
be printed in the programs distributed at the shows.

"It's a big moment for our students," Selby said. "We want
to recognize them in our community and the more people that are there, the
better."

Showcase starts at 7 p.m. each day, but doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance or $9 at the door. An
advance two-day pass is also available for $14.

Tickets may be purchased at the
Frauenthal's box office prior to the show from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday, or before the performances. They are also available by phone at
1-800-585-3737 or online at www.startickets.com.